Introduction of ligated vessels promote the retention and regeneration of free fat: constructing a fat flap in tissue engineering chamber

Adipocyte. 2020 Dec;9(1):108-115. doi: 10.1080/21623945.2020.1735025.

Abstract

Background: Breast reconstruction with fat grafting has an unstable retention rate due to insufficient revascularization. Tissue Engineering Chamber (TEC) model can promote tissue regeneration in the chamber by introducing ligated vessels around the tissue. We introduced ligated vessels with free fat graft to investigate the retention rate and revascularization of grafted fat that in TEC model.Methods: SD rats (n=24) was divided into 3 groups randomly. Group A: Standard TEC model was constructed; Group B: the epigastric vessel bundles were dissected from the fat flap and ligated, fat flap was cut into granules and planted into the chamber; Group C: Free fat was planted in the chamber. At week 6, samples in the chamber were harvested.Results: Significant volume increase was observed in group A and B, while the volume decreased in group C (P<0.05). Regeneration morphology could be found according to the histological observation in A and B. Micro CT results showed the ligated vessels into grafted fat sprouting robustly, coordinated with volume changes.Conclusion: Fat grafts in TEC model could not only survive but also regenerate. The combination of fat graft and TEC could fabricate a vascularized fat flap, which was a promising method in breast reconstruction.Abbreviations: VOI: Volumes of Interest; TEC: Tissue Engineering Chamber; CAL: Cell Assisted Lipotransfer.

Keywords: Fat graft; adipose tissue; regeneration; tissue engineering; tissue engineering chamber.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Epigastric Arteries / metabolism*
  • Epigastric Arteries / surgery
  • Fats / metabolism*
  • Ligation
  • Male
  • Models, Biological
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Tissue Engineering*

Substances

  • Fats

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China (81801931), the Scientific Research Foundation of National Health Planning Scientific Research Foundation-Joint Research Projects of Fujian Provincial Health and Education (2019-WJ-09), the Special Supported Funds of Fujian Provincial Finance Department (BPB-WB2019), the Medical Innovation Project of Fujian Province (2018-CX-26), the Young and Middle-aged Key Scholar Program of Fujian Provincial Health Commission (2019-ZQN-58), the Fujian Provincial Natural Science Foundation Program (2018J01154, 2018J01163), the Start-up Foundation of Fujian Medical University (2017XQ1059, 2018QH1090), the Fujian Provincial Key Clinical Specialty Discipline Construction Program (2016-SLCZD) and the Project of the Maxillofacial Medical Center in Fujian Province.